Mending Nathan Sent By Giants to Triple-A

Published 4:00 am, Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Photo: KENDRA LUCK

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The San Francisco Giants' pitcher Joe Nathan works out in the bull pen during practice at the Giants Spring Training facility at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, Az. (KENDRA LUCK/SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE)

The San Francisco Giants' pitcher Joe Nathan works out in the bull pen during practice at the Giants Spring Training facility at Indian School Park in Scottsdale, Az. (KENDRA LUCK/SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE)

All three were cut from the big-league camp and will start the season with Triple-A Fresno.

Ainsworth and Vogelsong knew it was coming. It was just a matter of when. But Nathan, who unlike the other two has substantial major-league experience, seemed blindsided.

"I'm definitely upset. Anybody in this situation would be," he said after finishing a short workout at the Giants' minor-league complex. "They know I'm not ready, but I didn't know that their option was to option me. But you can't feel sorry for yourself.

"It's time to go to work," Nathan said. "It's time to prove to them that I do belong up there and get my arm back up to where it was, so I don't give them an option of what to do."

Deep down, Nathan knew he wasn't ready to start the season. His right shoulder is healthy six months after surgery, but his arm is still weak. He can't throw as hard as he used to, and though he can get hitters out, it's hit or miss. The Giants are thinking of starting the season with 10 pitchers. They have to be strong pitchers.

"If we have to go to 10, all of the guys, especially the relievers, have to be ready to go and healthy enough to bounce back," Righetti said. "If there's any kind of that action at the end of camp where somebody comes up achy, the 11th man is going to have to be talked about."

Righetti acknowledged that yesterday's demotion was tough on Nathan, who has a 12-6 record with the Giants.

"He's an emotional kid," Righetti said. "We had talked about it a few days ago. He knew. You just never want to hear it. I was the same way. I'd have my head down crying, too. You never want to hear it regardless of if it's right, whatever. You still get welled up about it because you know where you want to be, you should be, but you're not there yet. It's frustrating."

The Giants figure Nathan will get stronger quicker if he's not under the big-league microscope.

Ainsworth and Vogelsong, 22 and 23 respectively, are good enough to pitch in the majors. Ainsworth had a particularly good spring, throwing eight scoreless innings before the Angels roughed him up for four runs in the first inning of his final start.

There is just no room for youth on a pitching staff preparing to face a division filthy with talented, experienced starters.

Righetti left no doubt how he and the organization feel about the pair.

"Those two guys are at the top of the list right now. No question about it, " Righetti said. "They're both, in my mind, the young stallions. They're fun to watch, and it's exciting for the fans to get excited about new blood. With those kinds of guys it's a matter of time. Who knows when it's going to happen. "

He's ahead of the other two because he's won in the big leagues already. When he's ready, he's going to be in the big leagues."

Righetti wants Vogelsong and Ainsworth to work on getting outs more efficiently, coaxing more groundballs and flyouts from hitters so they'll be able to throw more innings.

Vogelsong and Ainsworth are best friends. In fact, Vogelsong stayed in a house rented by Ainsworth and his wife this spring.

"We're going to go down there and push each other like always," said Vogelsong, who pitched six shutout innings in his first taste of the bigs last September. "You're disappointed because you're impatient and you want to be here now."

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Righetti's biggest concern with these guys is pitching in Calgary and Edmonton on Fresno's first road trip, when it might be freezing. Ainsworth laughed when he heard that.

"I don't mind throwing in the cold," he said. "The hitters have to hit in it, too."

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